If and when the need arises to place Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children outside their family homes, the Aboriginal Child Placement Principle outlines a preference for these children to be placed with other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The Principle has the following order of preference for the placement of Indigenous children:

with the child’s extended family

within the child’s Indigenous community

with other Indigenous people.

All states and territories have adopted the Aboriginal Child Placement Principle in legislation and policy.

The Principle is just one of the many considerations taken into account when making decisions on placements for Indigenous children.

Where placement options outlined in the Principle are not optimal for a child’s safety and wellbeing, the child may be placed in an alternative care arrangement. This is usually only done after extensive consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and/or organisations.